The European Gypsy Moth was introduced from Europe into Medford, Massachusetts in 1869 by Leopold Trouvelot, who was attempting to breed the insect for silk production. Unfortunately some of the caterpillars escaped from his backyard rearing facility, and by the early 1900's they began defolitaing large areas of New England(2). Description:
Caterpillars black,yellow and white, with pencil-like tufts of hair on both ends, and thick tufts all along the body, 1-3"(3).
Female adult gypsy moths are a brownish, with plume like antennae. The females are seen most often because they cannot fly. They are also larger, growing to an approximate two and a half inches long(3).
Males are much smaller (about 3/4 inches) and have a grayish color. Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Anthropod
Class: Insect
Family: Lepidoptera
Genus: Lymantria
Species: Lymantria dispar
Life Cycle:
The gypsy moth life cycle starts when the larve hatch in the spring. Hatch usually occurs shortly after oak foliage begins to expand. Larve often remain on the spent egg masses until a warm day arrives, at which time they journey to the foliage and begin eating(1). Eggs are laid within 24 hours of mating although the process could take up to several days.
Eggs are laid within 24 hours of mating although the process could take up to several days(2).The larva when first having hatched are only about a 1/8 of an inch in length while when they are fully grown the can become up to 2 to 3 inches in length. Energy Source:
Gypsy moths feed on approximatley 500 different plants. Older larvae will sometimes eat larger species of hardwood that the younger larvae will avoid. However, when the food is scarce, the larvae will feed on almost any vegetable(1). The gypsy moth has four different life stages: egg, larvae or caterpillar, pupae and adult moth(2). Female moths lay eggs in sheltered areas.When the gypsy moth population explodes, the feeding larvae can strip trees of leaves(3). This is called defoliation. Defoliation is very stressful for trees and can leave them so weak that they can be killed by other pests which would not normally bother them(1). Habitat/ Distribution:
The gypsy moth is native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is a relative newcomer to North America, introduced to the united states in 1869 by a scientist in Medford, Massachusetts(2). This species has a wide host range which includes native shade trees, as well as Garry Oak and valuable ornamentals trees. When the moths establish, the tree is stripped of their leaves in midsummer(3).Trees that were healthy typically can survive a single defoliation, but weak or stressed trees can be killed. Outbreaks can be localized to a single woodlot or stretch over thousands of acres. Impacts on the Ecosystem:
The European Gypsy Moth has a negative effect on the enviornment because they are stripping away the leaves in the summer time which are supposed to be at their fullest and greenest. There aren't really any impacts on humans except for their creepyness and annoyance to some people. Control Measures:
In small populations, it may be easiest to destroy egg masses that are found on buildings, trees, etc. To destroy the egg mass, either crush the eggs or place them in a bucket of kerosene or soapy water.Burning the egg mass will also kill them(1). Simply picking the egg masses off and dropping them on the ground will not kill them. Be careful when handling the egg masses because the hairs that cover the egg masses may cause an allergic reaction(1).
European Gypsy Moth
The European Gypsy Moth was introduced from Europe into Medford, Massachusetts in 1869 by Leopold Trouvelot, who was attempting to breed the insect for silk production. Unfortunately some of the caterpillars escaped from his backyard rearing facility, and by the early 1900's they began defolitaing large areas of New England(2).Description:
Caterpillars black,yellow and white, with pencil-like tufts of hair on both ends, and thick tufts all along the body, 1-3"(3).
Female adult gypsy moths are a brownish, with plume like antennae. The females are seen most often because they cannot fly. They are also larger, growing to an approximate two and a half inches long(3).
Males are much smaller (about 3/4 inches) and have a grayish color.
Scientific Classification:
Kingdom: Animal
Phylum: Anthropod
Class: Insect
Family: Lepidoptera
Genus: Lymantria
Species: Lymantria dispar![images[3].jpg](/file/view/images%5B3%5D.jpg/109493553/283x227/images%5B3%5D.jpg "images[3].jpg")
Life Cycle:
The gypsy moth life cycle starts when the larve hatch in the spring. Hatch usually occurs shortly after oak foliage begins to expand. Larve often remain on the spent egg masses until a warm day arrives, at which time they journey to the foliage and begin eating(1). Eggs are laid within 24 hours of mating although the process could take up to several days.
Eggs are laid within 24 hours of mating although the process could take up to several days(2).The larva when first having hatched are only about a 1/8 of an inch in length while when they are fully grown the can become up to 2 to 3 inches in length.
Energy Source:
Gypsy moths feed on approximatley 500 different plants. Older larvae will sometimes eat larger species of hardwood that the younger larvae will avoid. However, when the food is scarce, the larvae will feed on almost any vegetable(1). The gypsy moth has four different life stages: egg, larvae or caterpillar, pupae and adult moth(2). Female moths lay eggs in sheltered areas.When the gypsy moth population explodes, the feeding larvae can strip trees of leaves(3). This is called defoliation. Defoliation is very stressful for trees and can leave them so weak that they can be killed by other pests which would not normally bother them(1).
Habitat/ Distribution:
The gypsy moth is native to Europe, Asia and North Africa. It is a relative newcomer to North America, introduced to the united states in 1869 by a scientist in Medford, Massachusetts(2). This species has a wide host range which includes native shade trees, as well as Garry Oak and valuable ornamentals trees. When the moths establish, the tree is stripped of their leaves in midsummer(3).Trees that were healthy typically can survive a single defoliation, but weak or stressed trees can be killed. Outbreaks can be localized to a single woodlot or stretch over thousands of acres.
Impacts on the Ecosystem:
The European Gypsy Moth has a negative effect on the enviornment because they are stripping away the leaves in the summer time which are supposed to be at their fullest and greenest. There aren't really any impacts on humans except for their creepyness and annoyance to some people.
Control Measures:
In small populations, it may be easiest to destroy egg masses that are found on buildings, trees, etc. To destroy the egg mass, either crush the eggs or place them in a bucket of kerosene or soapy water.Burning the egg mass will also kill them(1). Simply picking the egg masses off and dropping them on the ground will not kill them. Be careful when handling the egg masses because the hairs that cover the egg masses may cause an allergic reaction(1).
Works Cited:
1. Collins, Joe. "EUROPEAN GYPSY MOTH." http://www.ca.uky.edu/. University ofKentucky College of Agriculture, Spring 1996. Web. 8 Dec. 2009.
<http://www.ca.uky.edu/entomology/entfacts/ef425.asp>.
2. Pennsylvania Department of Corporation and Natural Resources. "What is the Gypsy
Moth?" http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/Forestry/gypsymoth/index.aspx. N.p.,
n.d. Web. 13 Dec. 2009. <http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us>.
3. Zhou, Niki, and Carla Holleran. "Web of Species." Web of Species: biodiversity
at Wellesley College and in New England. Nick Rodenhouse, 7 Aug. 2004. Web.
14 Dec. 2009. <http://www.wellesley.edu>.